working from home
i think it's often a great idea; there's tons of benefits and, depending on the type of work involved, very little downsides. i am still surprised by the lack of employers willing to allow this.
- less need for single purpose office space
- no commute journey costs
- no commute journey time
- ...add some more here
Comments
i've worked with people the other side of the world using the internet. from start to finish on a project, easily. yet, i have to commute daily to go into an office to continue working on a project that's been ongoing for a while. we even communicate via email in the office hehe (as well as by talking, ok...).
just seems silly at times
never again. ;-)
i install and play about with new software, adjust itunes playlists, tweak the OS and generally tomfool in work too...
nekkid prepress & design
I used to work form home but when I worked for myself !
I don't think I'd do it again either.
I worked at least as much as I do at 'work' ... probably more, way more. I'd work well into supper time whithout thinking about it because I'd be on a role and sometimes end up working until 11pm on projects. Then on weekends sitting around thinking about what I could be doing at work. also there would be the odd day of nothing to do so I'd start playing games or something, then I get a call or an email for some work to do, but I'm so caught up in the game during the day I don't end up working until after supper.
Even if I started working for myself I'd get a small studio space or if I can get an acreage I'll set up an office in the barn or somethign so when I goto work I actually go to work.
there's as many distractions at work as there are at home, like the sock said you need some self discipline to ensure you meet deadlines etc but working from is the way forward for some organisations, especially those wanting to reduce onsite costs and 'go green'....
(seriously, it does take some concentration, and a certain acceptance from the family and friends that when you're working, you're WORKING)
(actually i do have to be at places, or be awake sometimes...but its rare)
I edit bullshit videos, for bullshit people, for bullshit reasons(depositions, local cable commercials and weddings oh my!!!)
on a serious note,@chris what you said is very true...the amount of gas consumption reduced alone makes the idea worthwhile
the amount of money these people pay for what i feel is 'wasted space' is amazing to me, my ex girlfriend had an office job, she spent a whole lot of time messaging me or calling, yet she had like this corner office, door closed kind of bullstuff going on~why pay for that- 99% of her job was done online & over the phone... corporations are odd and very stuck in their own MUDdled thinking...i do think we will see more people working from home in the next decade though~it makes sense on so many levels...i fel like im onm the verge of a rant, but i'm very very very tired right now...BTW you know when i have to wake up tomorrow~Whenever the hell i want to!!!
Im not so drunk right now~but i still love you all!!!
~i love you too~
I especially feel so muh more relaxed when on a project that needs that bit more ispiration and it's nowhere to be seen. The suddenly whilst watching
Eastenders an idea pops into head, I then Sky+ my show keep idea afloat whilst I go to my machine in other room and voila.
Sometimes have done a straight 24 hour "shift" because of the ease at being at home but then the client was pleased and ultimately so was I.
Only downside is I do miss the office gossip, lunches. But am able to get to gym when it's more or less empty and get the pool and sauna to myself 8/10 visits
so.
Good idea to get motivation at home is to get up early and dress as if you are going to go out to work.
Honestly I've found that that psychological switch after years of being institutionalised 9-5 still needs to be flicked on.
vortexual
i feel so special
well ..from time to time i'am working at home. and you are right, chris: fast internet access is enough for many things to be done outside the office (using vpn tunnel, desktop sharing, web cam, etc.). but i have to second kelrin/meska: i don't get things done as good as in the office.
Its not lack of discipline, everybody does it. dont believe us... you got a big "I TOLD YA SO" coming your way
I wake up and shower and get dressed even if no body will see my ass all day. hell its 9 am and i just did.
The only other major downside is this happens waaaaaay too often.
Part time designer... full time debt collector.
Im owed $4k right now, im fine and not starving... BUT I STILL WANT MY FUUUUUCKKKING MONEY!
Off site is always last to get paid 30 days to pay means... the check is send on the 30th day usually... low priority mail
oh.. last thing since we're the same age. Working from lost me personally, a lot of time to learn from older more experienced designers. I think looking back one day i'll say this hurt the worst. i skipped my most valuable growth periods. at the rate i charge now, they dont want to hear "im not sure" or "i dont know" or the worst "let me try that again"
Usually its the boss being insecure or not liking the fact they're guys on salary are taking from both ends tbh.
i *think* that it can often be attributed to the employer being uneasy with the situation, i'll give you that. saying that, if the job gets done, and your employees are happier, who cares if they work on other things in the down time?
Nothing new is really being said. I read the articles on the biz part of design all the time. same stuff being said here.
I agree, i believe the same thing, my developers and guys can do whatever the hell they want. as long as they dont try to milk me and everything gets done. Its fine. But not everybody feels the same way.
edit: i still got a G5.. my comp IS my heater... 1 foot away
media, programming and writting (not count real estate agents). Cant think of other industries are have off site, as a common part of the industry.
but this isn't just about me, i meant in general. err, yeah...
[hide] fuck i always wanted to steal this little Socko trademark thing you love doing.[/hide]
FACT: i'm going to steal your "FACT:" thing because .. i just like it.
that's all i meant, really.
i think the main thing for me is, as meska pointed out, it can't be used for child minding - it'd never work out. if (when) i get set up on my own, i'd love to have somewhere to go to to work, but there is office space which would take me less than 5 mins to walk to from here, so it's better than a 10 mile commute. apart from when i want to ride the bike in to work, because that is both fun and dangerous
The life-work balance could also be a lot better working from home, riding like a cunt for example before settling down to some work would be very rewarding/invigorating. Feeling in control. The downside with most places of employment is that too many bosses are insecure bastards who (knowing they spend most of their time fiddling with their desk accessories), get anally retentive if the staff under them: laugh, joke, have friendly banter, go to the toilet, fart or do anything that to their eyes looks like they are not chained to work. They do this rather than accept there is a natural ebb and flow during a working day, therefore making all us minions, stressed, resentful, unproductive, etc. That or we leave
Then all the other benefits. I live on the edge of the second largest conurbation in the UK. Hour many hours are lost by commuting into its centre every morning? The cars driven in then often just sit there for seven hours before heading back to that strip car park called a highway.
Even flexi-working would be better than most of our traditional work patterns, for many a modern job (might not work so well in the armed forces or a car production line
My dream would be a small office, a studio, where I can go to work when ever I feel like it. Someday I'll rent one!
A friend of mine had real difficultly when he had a period of self-employment. Not so much from the getting motivated point of view but because he felt the office was always calling (there over his shoulder all the time) so he had to put a rigid pattern to his working; making sure he cut off after a certain time.
I'm lucky (or the opposite depending on how you look at it) that I have few distractions (no wife or children) and my 'office' is not in a 'living' room, so I can close the door, either to end the day or to keep what distractions there are at bay . . .
*yawns*